The Osage City Chamber of Commerce has announced Gary and Kaye Dayhoff have been honored as Mr. and Mrs. Osage City for 2022, and will ride in the Osage County Fair Parade Friday evening in downtown Osage City.
Gary was born in Topeka, Kan., and has served the community since he moved to Osage City from Abilene, Kan., in 1959. His parents, Ivan and Ruby Dayhoff, had brought the elevator north of town and renamed it Ivan Dayhoff Elevator, Inc. Gary began working at the elevator when he was in junior high school and continued until he and his brother, Bob, sold the business in 2011 to MFA where he still serves the community. For many years, Dayhoff Elevator was a big 4-H livestock supporter at the Osage City Fair.
Gary joined the Osage City Army Reserves in 1966 and served for seven years. He has been a part of the Osage City area fire department since 1966 as a volunteer fireman until he became a member of the fire board in 1986, on which he currently serves.
Kaye was born in Topeka and moved from Carbondale, Kan., to Osage City at the age of 7. Her parents, Faye and Irene Smart, purchased the Quality Oil Station on Market Street. She was active in the school system with the school bond issue for a new gym and closing of Fifth Street between schools, helped start the PTO, and was a para-professional for a number of years.
When the home manufacturing plant (known later as Kan Build) came to town, Kaye joined the team as human resources and safety coordinator. She held the position for more than 25 years until the plant closed in 2011.
She served on the Veteran’s Memorial Committee to erect a memorial site in Osage City. For the past nine years, she has managed Park Place Apartments, Osage City, which serves seniors and disabled residents. Kaye is an active partner of the Community Covenant Church, Osage City, and serves on the leadership team.
Gary and Kaye graduated from Osage City High School with the class of 1964. All of their children, Adam, Carol, and Chloe, Stephanie and Shara, graduated from OCHS. Their interests include church, home and family. Gary enjoys mowing their large yard and around the elevator. Kaye enjoys her Fridays pickin’ for vintage/antique treasures.
The couple will be honored guests in the Osage County Fair Parade, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 8, 2022, on Market Street in Osage City. This year’s parade theme is “Blue Jeans and Country Dreams”.
Information thanks to Osage City Chamber of Commerce.
